A QUIZ team from Englesea Brook Chapel and Museum was one question away from scooping £18,000 on the BBC2 programme Eggheads.

Divine intervention was not enough for the ‘Ranter Preachers’ to topple the ‘Eggheads’, who were pushed all the way by the South Cheshire outfit when the programme screened on Tuesday last week

The Rev Stephen Hatcher, who assembled the team but did not take part, said that he was proud of his team’s efforts as the members went through a remarkable four sudden death rounds before finally bowing out to Britain’s brainiest.

He added: ‘They did extremely well. Our team was made up of people who are associated with the Englesea Chapel and Museum, and we put the team together at the request of the BBC.

‘The name Ranter Preachers comes from early Methodism, and was a term of derision really.

‘But it’s a catchphrase that stuck and aroused curiosity, and has become affectionate over time.’

The team battled it out with five of the most knowledgeable quiz gurus in the country including Mastermind winner Kevin Ashman and Crewe’s own Brain of Britain winner Christopher Hughes.

The Rev Hatcher added: ‘We’re not exactly regular quiz players, and we probably won’t be again.

‘The team got as near as they could and I’m very proud of their efforts.’